Triathlete Earns World Race Spot

October 30, 2007|By ED RICHARDS, erichards@dailypress.com 247-4645

Crystal Pruitt never had competed in a triathlon race until about two years ago. Now, in an amazing success story, she'll be racing in the Ford Half Ironman World Championship Nov. 10 in Clearwater, Fla.

First of all, she can thank her mom, Faye, who gave her the idea of taking up the sport. But that was a no-brainer. Her daughter had been a runner and swimmer at Poquoson High School, graduating in 2003. All she had to do was develop some biking skills.

Her dad, Glenn, helped in that department by getting her a road bike and going riding with her.

Then came someone who really got her rolling in the sport. It was veteran triathlete David Witte of Yorktown, who began working with Crystal to hone her overall skills.

Witte, 43, came close to qualifying for the upcoming World Championship but will still be there to help support Pruitt.

"He took her under his wing. He's helped her a lot," Pruitt's mom said.

Pruitt competed in her first triathlon at Smith Mountain Lake State Park in Huddleston in September of 2005.

"She was scared to death," recalls her mother.

Not anymore. Since then, she has gotten better and better. For 2006, call it a good year.

For 2007, it has been way beyond her expectations. She's topped her season by winning the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Championship while competing for Virginia Tech, then captured the overall women's title for the Virginia Triathlon Series.

In the season-long series, she won all four of the events she entered in the elite division.

Pruitt, now 22 and a senior at Tech, is scheduled to fly out of Newport News for the World Championship next week.

"I'm excited. It's the race I've been focusing on," she said.

She's known for her endurance, and she'll need it because the race includes a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, and 13.1-mile run.

Pruitt won her last race over the same distances - the Patriot's Half in Williamsburg in 4 hours, 52 minutes, 27 seconds - and qualified for the World Championship by placing third at the EagleMan Ironman on June 10 in Maryland in 4:41:10.

But she's excelled at all distances. Her last win came at the Giant Acorn on Oct. 6 in Bumpass. It was a short 750-meter swim, 20K bike, and 5K run in 1:08:15. ...

Adam Otstot, 25, of Williamsburg, finished second in the men's elite division with wins in the Smithfield Triathlon, 3-Sports Triathlon in Richmond and in the Giant Acorn.

BOWLING

Joey Hamilton had nothing to get excited about after warm-ups in the Junior/Senior Youth League on Oct. 6 at Village Lanes in Gloucester. He threw some good balls but left one spare.

All that was soon to change. Hamilton, 14, went on to bowl 12 consecutive strikes for a perfect game. As far back as anyone can remember, Hamilton is believed to be the youngest bowler to roll a 300 at Village Lanes.

It couldn't be attributed to strokes of luck. Hamilton, carrying a 212 average, zoned in on the pocket the entire game.

"It was the same mark, same shot, in the pocket," said Hamilton, a freshman at Gloucester High School, who has been bowling for only two years.

Was he nervous prior to throwing his final ball of the game?

"Oh, yeah," he said. "With everybody watching, I was about to have a nervous breakdown."

He added games of 180 and 190 for a 670 series. That was still shy of his career high set, a 699 this summer. His previous high game was 266. ...

All students interested in participating in the 20th annual Peninsula High School Traveling Bowling League are urged to attend Thursday's organizational meeting, which starts at 3:30 p.m. at the AMF York Lanes in Grafton.

After the meeting there will be free bowling. The season opens the following Thursday at York.

The league is open to all eighth through 12th-graders.

For more information, contact Mary Pancoast at 830-1346.

WINDSURFING

Dave Kashy of Yorktown won four of the five races on the opening day of the Windsurfing Enthusiasts of Tidewater Hampton Roads Sailingboard Classic on Oct. 20.

That strong start gave him a commanding lead in the Formula Class, and when the final day of races were canceled because of the lack of winds, the title was his.

With each competitor allowed to throw out one race, Kashy finished with four points. His worst showing was a third place.

ROAD RACING

Heidi Peterson, 13, of Williamsburg ran away with the women's title in the William and Mary Homecoming 5K on Saturday.

Peterson, a Toano Middle School student, came across the finish line in 18:56 for the 3.1-mile distance race.

Otstot topped the men's field in 16:27.

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